Does this bus stop at Pinderfields? Not yet

PATIENTS are struggling into the city’s hospital on foot because a bus service is not running - more than a year after the new Pinderfields opened.

A bus service was part of the original plan for the £250m hospital - but problems with the site layout and safety issues meant the service was suspended.

NHS bosses say they are working with the council, bus firm Arriva and transport authority Metro to solve the problem.

But bus stops outside the main entrance remain unused, forcing patients and visitors to walk in from the nearest stop on Aberford Road to the hospital, which was fully opened to patients in March 2011.

Elsie Taylor, 76, visits the hospital regularly with her husband Alan, 80. She said: “It’s quite a slope to walk up for elderly people. We went up there yesterday and people on crutches were getting wet in the rain walking to the entrance.

“This is a multi-million pound hospital.

“The bus shelters are there and I think people deserve a bus service. We want to see action.”

Mid Yorkshire Hospitals Trust said it decided not to open the bus stops because of congestion caused by more people being dropped off at the entrance than expected.

But Mrs Taylor said: “There are probably more people hanging around waiting for a lift or a taxi because there are no buses.”

Myles McQuade, the trust’s director of estates and facilities, said a report was expected in the coming weeks and a safety review was being carried out.

He said: “As soon as we have a solution, we will work with Arriva and Metro to put the service in place as soon as possible.

“We are optimistic that the report from this review will highlight improvement options to safely recommence the planned bus service.”

Arriva managing director Nigel Featham said: “We are currently assessing the various routes available to us and we are hopeful that there will be a positive outcome.”